About the team: In most other groups, Australia could make things interesting. In this group, however, the Socceroos’ chances of advancing aren’t good. The team has athleticism but, like the U.S., is missing that go-to goal-scorer that will be needed. Tim Cahill, a midfielder who plays for New York in MLS, is Australia’s top scorer. He is capable of snatching a point with his head or feet.

Chile

FIFA world ranking: 13

How it qualified: Finished in third place in South America.

Best finish: Semifinals in 1962.

About the team: This team likes to score. Defense? Not so much. It scored 29 goals during qualifying, but holes in the defense were exploited for 25 goals.

Spain

FIFA world ranking: 1

How it qualified: Finished first in its qualifying group.

Best finish: Champion in 2010.

About the team: The most accomplished team in this year’s tournament. Spain is the defending World Cup champion as well the two-time defending champ of Europe (2008 and ’12). It can be argued that its success is based on familiarity. The majority of the starting lineup plays together for either Barcelona or Real Madrid, so it has an already-established chemistry that other teams lack.

Netherlands

FIFA world ranking: 15

How it qualified: Finished first in its qualifying group.

Best finish: Runner-up in 1974, ’78 and 2010.

About the team: The Netherlands, the originator in the 1970s of the concept of interchangeable players known as “Total Football,” is capable of beating any team. It is extremely deep at goalie, midfield and forward, but the defense is thin. Arjen Robben has perhaps the best left foot in the world.

Group analysis

If Group G is the Group of Death, then this is the Group of Life Support. Feel sorry for the Aussies, who would do well to get a point. The group kicks off Friday in Salvador with Spain vs. the Netherlands, merely a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final. And Chile is the team no one wants to play, given its frenetic style of high pressure and versatile formations. The group represents a fascinating contrast of tactics. Australia plays a traditional 4-4-2. Spain plays 4-2-3-1. Dutch (and new Manchester United) coach Louis Van Gaal is junking the 4-3-3 for a 5-3-2. Chile and Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez play all of the above, sometimes in the same half. The biggest question, though, is whether the sun has set on Spain. La Roja returns the key pieces from the squad that won the 2008 and ’12 Euros and ’10 World Cup. But Iker Casillas, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres and David Villa are all in their 30s, with heavy leg mileage, and finishing second in the group almost certainly would mean a date against Brazil in the second round. Spain lost its opener in South Africa, 1-0 to Switzerland, and ended up winning it all.